30 Positive Quotes That Promote Change

Struggling with substance use is no picnic.

It can become painful to watch for family members, and those suffering can endure many negative consequences.

However, transformation is always possible.

Here are 30 quotes from parents, psychologists, those in recovery, and authors to help share possibilities and seeds for change.

1. It is trying to understand why a child is using drugs and alcohol, and the only way to get at that is to really listen to what your child has to say, instead of nagging and lecturing them. ~ Pat Aussem

2. Let a child take ownership of their recovery.  Support them and love them, but don’t hand hold them through the process. Let them make the decisions that they need so that they are successful in their recovery. At the same time be willing to do the hard work that we ask of our children for ourselves. In other words, find your own recovery. ~ Sandy Baiocco

3.When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.  ~ Augusten Burroughs

4. Allowing him to feel the consequences of his actions, the consequences of his addiction, has been our guiding light this past year. I cling to that now. ~ D’Anne Burwell

5. Research has found that family dinners and the family engagement that occurs during them helps to enhance children’s grades, discipline, and nutrition, and discourage drug and alcohol use among teenagers. ~ Joseph A. Califano Jr.

6. My intentions are to quit labeling experiences as good or bad and to just melt into and embrace what is. ~ Tom Catton

7. Recovery allows us the opportunity to transform sickness into health in every area of our life. ~ Mary Cook

8. Stay calm. This is something that will likely take some practice for most people (myself included). No matter how much anger you feel toward your loved one and their substance abuse problem, losing your cool and yelling at them will not make anything better. ~ Dean Dauphinais

9. What works best for adolescents, according to a plethora of studies, is family based treatment, something rehabs seldom offer, instead favoring teen group counseling, twelve-step approaches, and family education groups, not of which have been found to be as effective as interventions involving the entire family. ~ Anne Fletcher

10. First, change the way you think about substance use, compulsive behavior, and change. That is important: thinking is doing. How you think about a problem is the first step to a solution and the first thing  you can change. ~ Jeffrey Foote, PhD

11. In dancing, it only takes one partner to change the step and thus the entire dance; it may even end the dance. The same is true in a family’s recovery from the family disease of addiction. ~ Lisa Frederiksen

12. When you profoundly desire something and make it your objective to obtain the object of your dreams, you have intention. So finding your purpose with intention means figuring out what motivates you and makes living meaningful, then taking action to make that happen. ~ Sherry Gaba

13. Continuing to be optimistic, regardless of how things appear, is the best outlook to have. ~ Joe Herzanek

14. No one sets out to be an addict. No one sets out to ruin their life and the lives of all the people around them. No one sets out to see the anguish in the eyes of the people who love them. No one sets out to live the life I led. It happens over time, sure. but it also happens when you don’t address your issues ~ Chris Herren

15. Supporting your mind, body, and spirit is what will encourage long-term recovery and a positive life style. You will be filled with love and joy. ~ Chef Licia Jaccard

16. We do not battle addiction with anger, judgement, or blame, instead we reach out to the true person behind the addiction using love, compassionate honesty, and a vision for the future. ~ Debra Jay

17. What I once would have looked upon as weakness I now see as the key to empowerment. ~ Patrick J. Kennedy

18. Express self-compassion and you begin to shed feelings of shame, which is at the root of depression and substance abuse. ~ Christopher Kennedy Lawford

19. Let us hope that the obstacles of shame and secrecy can start to be left behind now, paving a way for people to access the variable methods of treatment — whether to prevent overdose with Narcan, decrease cravings with medications like Suboxone, increase motivation and skills for change with Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or increasing social support such as with Anon programs — there is help available. ~ Nicole Kosanke, PhD

20. It is imperative that parents know that today, there are options in helping and supporting your loved ones struggling with addiction. ~ Denise Mariano

21. If there is one overriding “fact” in the world of behavior change, it is that people who record important information about their lives are the people most likely to succeed in making important changes in their lives. ~ Robert J. Meyers, PhD

22. Pack your lectures and your solutions and your analogies away unless your children specifically ask for them, and instead just learn to be present with them. ~ Brad Reedy, PhD

23. The most important component of a conversation with children is listening. It sounds easy, but it isn’t. Parent must learn to listen better. It takes practice, patience, and practicing patience. ~ David Sheff

24. At the end of the day, our recovery must be based not on shame or perfectionism or the need to impress others, but on our willingness to be kind to ourselves. ~ Erica Spiegelman

25. The kindness of others, during my darkest times, could only be claimed when I was willing to throw open the shutters. Your secrets can make you sick, but your life lived authentically can help you heal. ~ Barbara Stoefen

26. You can’t break a habit, as much as you can replace a habit with something else that is more inspiring. As parents, the ideas is that we have to inspire our kids. ~ Tommy Rosen

27. First thing is timing and second thing is compassion. You’re not accusing the person, you are not confronting the person. You are talking with the person showing care and concern over a very serious health and lifestyle issue that if it is not addressed, it will kill you. ~ Scott Stevens

28.Recovery has been absolutely and completely expansive, every day bigger, better, and brighter. I have been granted a life beyond my wildest expectations.  ~ Kristina Wandzilak

29. Self-compassion involves noticing your suffering (e.g., becoming aware of shame, sadness, stress, anger, etc.), practicing self-kindness during painful experiences, and recognizing suffering as an aspect of life experienced by everyone. ~ Carrie Wilkins, PhD

30. I wouldn’t be alive today without my family. One of the conversations that I’ve had with my family is about being a young person in recovery and speaking publicly. It was an important conversation. It obviously affected them in some way, shape or form. ~ Greg Williams

What has helped you create change? Please let us know in comments.